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Scorpions Draw Fury 1-1 in Ottawa, Still Tied for First in the NASL

August 17, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


The San Antonio Scorpions drew the Ottawa Fury 1-1 at TD Place in Ottawa Sunday afternoon to earn another crucial road point in the NASL's Fall Season. The result leaves the Scorpions tied at the top of the table on points with Minnesota United in the NASL's Fall Season standings and six points up on the third place New York Cosmos in the combined table.

In the 76', second half substitute Trevin Caesar - who had come on for César Elizondo in the 74' minute - received an outlet pass from defender Aaron Maund in the center of the pitch about 30 yards from the Fury goal. Caesar took a couple of touches to create space for himself and then unleashed a rocket that found the unreachable spot in the upper right 90 of Ottawa 'keeper Romuald Peiser's goal.

The Fury continued to press and had the Scorpions on their heels for much of the match's final fifteen minutes, but the Scorpions looked to have weathered the storm until Vini Dantas sent a high, looping ball from just inside midfield that beat the Scorpions defense. Fury forward Tom Heinemann was sent in on San Antonio backstop Josh Saunders all alone and though the San Antonio goalie got a hand on the big striker's chip shot, it was not enough to redirect the ball outside the frame and the ball rolled into the net. It was a reversal of fortune from the first match these teams played in Ottawa in the spring season when Tomasz Zahorski scored late in stoppage time to give the Scorpions all three points.

Fortune looked to be on San Antonio's side again minutes before the tying goal as Saunders made what looked to be a win-preserving play. Midfielder Richard Menjivar was called for a handball in the box and the Fury were awarded a penalty kick. Ottawa's leading scorer, Tony Donatelli, took the spot kick and sent a low, hard shot to the left side of the frame. But Saunders had read the midfielder's run up to the ball well and timed his dive perfectly to save the penalty shot in the 86' minute.

The first half was fairly listless from both sides, with a couple of Billy Forbes runs creating the best chances for the Scorpions and long shots or crosses engineering the most danger for the Fury. The match opened up into an entertaining affair early in the second half even before the late action.

The Scorpions are back at Toyota Field next Saturday and will try to extend their six-match home unbeaten run against the visiting Atlanta Silverbacks. Ottawa will hit the road to play fellow expansion team Indy Eleven the same evening at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.

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The Scorpions' next home match at Toyota Field is August 23rd at 7:30pm against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Tickets can be purchased at Toyota Field Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Call 210.495.8686 for more information on season tickets or log onto SAScorpions.com.

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